Orbit Garden Watering Systems

Why Do People Need Soaker and Drip Watering Systems?

• Easy to Use and Maintain ✔️
• Saves Money ✔️
• Healthy and Happy Plants ✔️
• Saves Water ✔️

Drip Versus Soaker Systems

DRIP systems are miniature sprinkler systems that water individual plants. Drip sprinklers range in spray distance from 0 to 15 feet and emit water from 1/2 to 30 gallons per minute, allowing gardeners to tailor systems to meet each plant's needs. Drip systems are great for flower gardens, xeriscape gardens, container plants, trees, and shrubs and can be connected to any outdoor faucet or retrofitted to a new or existing underground sprinkler system.

SOAKER systems are designed to saturate the soil in a designated area. Water weeps from the tubing and is soaked up by the surrounding soil to gently water delicate plants. There are two types of soaker emitters: soaker hose and sprinkler hose. Soaker hose gently discharges water from holes all around the tubing. Sprinkler hose gently discharges water from holes on the sides of the tubing, but also sprays water up to 10 feet from holes located on the top of the hose. Soaker systems are used for flower and vegetable gardens, professional landscaping, and any other vegetation planted in close proximity to each other. Soaker systems can be connected to any outdoor faucet or retrofitted to a new or existing underground sprinkler system.

Soaker Hose with Brass Ends: 50' and 75' Lengths

For basic Soaker Hose applications:

1. Connect your faucet or hose using a faucet adapter. [See water source products on pg. 13 for additional resources and options]. This connection typically involves a faucet adapter and a pressure reducer.
2. Run a length of 1/2" supply tubing or a standard garden hose to the area to be watered.

Note: DO NOT remove the flow restrictor from inside the swivel hose attachment of your soaker hose. This flow restrictor is designed to maintain optimal water flow and pressure in the soaker hose. If removed or damaged, the life cycle and performance of your soaker hose will be greatly reduced. The manufacturer is not liable for incidental or consequential damages as a result of any misuse or defect of the product.

After initial connections, you will:

3. Connect garden hose to soaker hose. Or, using 1/2" supply tubing, use a 1/2" tubing end cap connector fitting to attach soaker hose.
4. Weave the soaker hose near the roots of your plants throughout the desired watering area. Soaker hose is available in lengths of 50 and 75 feet.
5. Cap the end of the soaker hose with a cap that comes with the 1/2" tubing end cap fitting.

Soaker Hose Options

• Flowers & Vegetables Soaker Hose: 1/2" diameter is ideal for smaller root plants like flowers and vegetables, and easily contours to fit smaller garden spaces.
• Trees, Shrubs & Gardens Soaker Hose: 5/8" diameter is designed for larger root plants like trees, shrubs, and perennials.
• Sprinkler & Soaker Hose: Flat soaker tubing seeps water into surrounding soil and sprays streams of water up to ten feet from the hose to reach surrounding plants.

NOTE: 25 psi is the ideal water pressure. Always use a pressure reducer.

Custom Soaker Tubing System

For basic Soaker Tubing applications:

1. Connect your faucet or hose using a faucet adapter. [See water source products on pg. 13 for additional resources and options]. This connection includes a faucet adapter and pressure reducer.
2. Run 1/2" supply tubing to the garden.
3. Use 1/2" loop stakes [stake emoji] to hold hose in place.
4. Use a 1/2" tubing tee connector [tee connector emoji] to branch 1/2" supply tubing or Soaker tubing.
5. Use a 1/2" tubing coupling connector [coupling connector emoji] to connect 1/2" supply tubing to 1/2" soaker tubing.
6. Weave the soaker tubing near the roots of your plants throughout the desired watering area. Soaker Hose is available in lengths of 100 feet.
7. Cap the end of the soaker tubing with a 1/2" tubing end cap fitting.

NOTE: 25 psi is the ideal water pressure. Always use a pressure reducer.

Individual lengths of soaker hose or tubing should never exceed 100' in length. One faucet can operate up to six individual 100' lengths.

A soaker system should ALWAYS be installed with a pressure reducer at the water source. Water pressure should not exceed 25 psi, or the life cycle and performance of your soaker hose will be greatly reduced. The manufacturer of this product is not liable for incidental or consequential damages as a result of any misuse or defect of the product.

Drip Watering System

Run 1/2" Supply Tubing through garden and tap drip lines to individual plants.

1. Connect your faucet or hose using a faucet adapter. [See water source products on pg. 13 for additional resources and options]. This setup includes a faucet adapter, pressure reducer, and connects to 1/2" supply tubing.
2. Run 1/2" supply tubing through the center of the garden.
3. Use 1/2" loop stakes [stake emoji] to hold tubing in place.
4. 1/4" drip tubing connects to the 1/2" supply tubing with 1/4" fittings. Punch a hole into the 1/2" supply tubing, push a 1/4" fitting into the hole, and proceed by connecting 1/4" drip tubing to the 1/4" fitting.
5. Connect emitters to the end of the 1/4" tubing and place next to the base of the plant. Emitters include Multi-Stream Drippers, Pressure Compensating Drippers, and Decorative Sprinklers.
6. Cap the end of the 1/2" supply tubing with a 1/2" tubing end cap fitting.

NOTE: 25 psi is the ideal water pressure. Always use a pressure reducer.

Container Watering System

Use a Drip System to water container plants.

1. Connect your faucet or hose using a faucet adapter. [See water source products on pg. 13 for additional resources and options]. This setup includes a faucet adapter, pressure reducer, and connects to 1/2" supply tubing.
2. Run 1/2" supply tubing next to the containers or planters.
3. 1/4" Drip tubing connects to the 1/2" supply tubing with 1/4" fittings. Punch a hole into the 1/2" supply tubing, push a 1/4" fitting into the hole, and proceed by connecting 1/4" drip tubing to the 1/4" fitting. Components include soaker rings, flex mist sprayers, multi-stream stakes, and decorative pot hangers.
4. Cap the end of the 1/2" supply tubing with a 1/2" tubing end cap fitting.

Small container systems may be assembled using only 1/4" Drip Tubing. In this application, use the Drip Faucet Adapter to connect Drip Tubing to the outside faucet. Cap end of Drip Tubing with plug from 1/4" Drip Fittings.

Component Descriptions

No two gardens or landscapes are exactly alike. Soaker and drip watering systems are simple to assemble into custom layouts that meet the needs of your garden area and plants. Use the following component descriptions to identify the parts you need.

Soaker Hose Watering System

• 5/8" x 50' Soaker Hose: A standard soaker hose for general garden use.
• 5/8" x 75' Soaker Hose: A longer version of the standard soaker hose.
• 10' Sprinkler Misting and Soaker Hose: Combines soaker capabilities with a misting spray function.

Drip Watering System

• 1/2" (.700") x 100' Bulk Soaker Tubing: Flexible tubing for creating custom drip irrigation layouts.
• Tree and Shrub Soaker Ring: A circular emitter designed to deliver water around the base of trees and shrubs.
• 50' Sprinkler Misting and Soaker Hose: A versatile hose that can seep water, spray, or mist.

Sprinklers & Water Source Fittings

• Drip Bug Dragonfly: A decorative and functional drip emitter. [insect emoji]
• Multi-Stream Dripper: A dripper that emits water in multiple streams. [dripper emoji]
• Adjustable Spray Pattern Micro-Sprinkler on a Stake: A small sprinkler with adjustable spray patterns, mounted on a stake. [sprinkler emoji]
• 0-4 Gallons Per Hour Flag Dripper: A low-flow dripper with a flag indicator. [dripper emoji]
• 2 Gallons per Hour Flag Dripper: A slightly higher flow rate dripper with a flag indicator. [dripper emoji]
• 1/4" x 50' Porous Soaker Tubing: A porous tubing that weeps water along its length.
• 6" Stake Multi-Stream Dripper: A multi-stream dripper mounted on a 6-inch stake. [dripper emoji]
• 1/4" x 60' Drilled Soaker Tubing: Tubing with pre-drilled holes for water emission.
• Adjustable Flow Flex-Mist® Sprayer: A sprayer that can produce a misting effect with adjustable flow. [sprayer emoji]
• Faucet Adapter: Connects irrigation tubing to a standard garden faucet. [adapter emoji]
• Decorative Garden Accessory Gecko Sprinkler: A decorative sprinkler shaped like a gecko. [sprinkler emoji]
• Single-Dial Digital Watering Timer: An electronic timer for automating watering schedules. [timer emoji]
• Hose Faucet Pressure Reducer: Reduces water pressure from the faucet to protect the irrigation system. [pressure reducer emoji]
• Hose Y: A Y-shaped connector to split water flow from a single hose. [hose Y connector emoji]

Fittings (Including tubing) & Kits

Fittings essentially direct water from the source of the water out to where the sprinklers need to be. Kits contain essential fittings in one pack.

• 1/2" x 50' Supply Tubing: Tubing for distributing water in larger systems.
• 1/2" x 100' Supply Tubing: Longer length of supply tubing.
• 1/2" Tubing Loop Stake: Stakes to secure 1/2" tubing. [stake emoji]
• 1/4" Tubing Loop Stake: Stakes to secure 1/4" tubing. [stake emoji]
• 1/4" x 50' Tubing: Smaller diameter tubing, often used for drip lines.
• 1/4" x 100' Supply Tubing: Longer length of smaller diameter tubing.
• 1/4" Tubing Tee Connector: A T-shaped connector for branching 1/4" tubing. [tee connector emoji]
• 1/4" Tubing Coupling Connector: Connects two pieces of 1/4" tubing. [coupling connector emoji]
• 1/4" Tubing Connector Assortment Pack: A pack containing various 1/4" tubing connectors.
• 1/2" Tubing Tee Connector: A T-shaped connector for branching 1/2" tubing. [tee connector emoji]
• 1/2" Tubing End Cap: Caps the end of 1/2" tubing. [end cap emoji]
• 1/2" Tubing Coupling Connector: Connects two pieces of 1/2" tubing. [coupling connector emoji]

Kits and Miscellaneous Components

Pre-packaged Kits

• Garden Essentials Kit: Contains recommended fittings, sprinklers, and accessories for general garden use.
• Xeriscape Essentials Kit: Contains recommended fittings, drippers, and accessories for water-wise landscaping.
• All-in-One Hose Faucet Connection: Connects 1/2" tubing to a standard hose faucet, including a pressure reducer and filter.
• Above Ground Bubbler & Spray Kit: Designed for watering lawns or gardens, connecting to a hose or faucet, featuring adjustable bubblers and spray heads.
• Flower Garden Kit: Specifically designed for watering flower gardens, often including soaker tubing and micro-sprinklers.
• Deco Hose/Faucet Starter Kit: Enables attachment of decorative watering products to a faucet or hose, often including a manifold.
• Vegetable Garden Kit: Designed for watering fruits and vegetables, typically including soaker tubing and flag drippers.

Manifolds & Miscellaneous

Manifolds attach to the water source directing water to various sections of your garden.

• Shrub Head Manifold: A manifold designed for shrub head connections. [manifold emoji]
• Tubing Punch Tool: A tool for punching holes in drip tubing to insert fittings. [tool emoji]
• Full Flow Quad Manifold: A manifold with four outlets for distributing water. [manifold emoji]
• DripMaster Installation Guide: A guide for installing DripMaster systems. [guide emoji]
• Adjustable Flow Apollo 8® Manifold: A manifold with adjustable flow capabilities. [manifold emoji]

Component Check-List

Connect the products to the faucet

• Hose Y [hose Y connector emoji]
• Pressure Regulator [pressure regulator emoji]
• Filter [filter emoji]
• Anti-Siphon Back-Flow Preventor [back-flow preventor emoji]

Tubing and/or Hose

• Soaker Hose
• Poly Pipe
• Drip Tubing
• Mini Soaker Hose
• 1/4" Drip Tubing

System Components (fittings)

• Figure 8 End Caps [end cap emoji]
• Couplings [coupling connector emoji]
• Tees [tee connector emoji]
• Stakes [stake emoji]
• Adapters [adapter emoji]

Drip Fittings

• PC Emitters [dripper emoji]
• Low-Vol. Mini-Sprinklers [sprinkler emoji]
• 1/2" & 1/4" Connector [connector emoji]
• Faucet Adapters or Manifold [adapter emoji]

Helpful Tips & Guidelines

For optimal water efficiency and plant health

Water in the morning and less frequently for longer duration. Frequent watering leads to shallow plant roots.

SOAKER

• To maintain even watering, soaker hose should not be extended beyond 100 feet from the water source.
• A single faucet can operate a total of up to 600 feet of soaker hose. This is a combined total of all soaker hose no greater than 100 feet in length from each outlet.
• Soaker hose will water plants in loose, sandy soil up to 8 inches from each side of the hose; plants in hard, clay-like soil must be within 12 inches of the hose.
• Soaker hose is best used above ground or covered with mulch. Hose may be buried up to 4 inches deep if necessary, but is discouraged as it is more difficult to monitor watering and hose can be damaged by unseen roots or digging.
• Mini soaker hose should not exceed 15 feet in length.
• Avoid placing soaker hose up and down hills; lay it horizontally along slopes.
• Soaker hose emits 1 gallon of water per hour for every 10 feet of hose, varying with water pressure and length of hose. To determine optimal watering duration, experiment with each section.
• Soaker hose operates best at low pressures of 10 to 25 psi. The water from the hose should drip and not spray. Always use a pressure regulator [pressure regulator emoji] to achieve the appropriate water pressure.
• A soaker system should ALWAYS be installed with a pressure reducer [pressure reducer emoji] at the water source.
• Water pressure should not exceed 25 psi, or the life cycle and performance of your soaker hose will be greatly reduced.
• The manufacturer of this product is not liable for incidental or consequential damages as a result of any misuse or defect of the product.

DRIP

• A single faucet can operate sprinklers for a total up to 200 gallons per hour. Mix and match drip sprinklers to total 200 gallons per hour for each faucet.

Contact Information

Orbit® Irrigation Products Inc.
845 N. Overland Rd.
North Salt Lake, Utah 84054 USA
http://www.orbitonline.com/
800-488-6156 | 801-299-5555

PN 98976-01 Rev B